Astonishingly beautiful and varied natural minerals come alive in exquisite decorative miniatures created by master stone-cutters. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries there was a fashion for imitation flowers assembled from different varieties of stone in little rock crystal vessels and for figurines of people and animals. Particularly prized were those produced by the celebrated house of Faberge, which created such trinkets for the Russian Imperial family and European royalty. Present-day jewellers, inspired by the craftsmanship of their predecessors, create their own versions in the style of the famous firm.